Committee declines 2 Board of Regents nominations

Governor urges Senate to put politics aside, approve nominees

An Iowa Senate panel held up the nomination of two Board of Regents nominees and approved a third Wednesday.

Committee declines 2 Board of Regents nominations

Governor urges Senate to put politics aside, approve nominees

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Updated: 7:48 AM CDT Mar 21, 2013

DES MOINES, Iowa —

An Iowa Senate panel held up the nomination of two Board of Regents nominees and approved a third Wednesday.

Lawmakers on the Senate Education Committee did not recommend the nominations of Board President Craig Lang and Robert Cramer.

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In a Monday hearing, Lang cited a tuition freeze for all schools in the upcoming academic year as an achievement.

But Democratic lawmakers on the panel questioned Lang's leadership. Some members asked if the board was politically motivated.

The committee interviewed Cramer on Tuesday. Some committee members said Cramer's conservative views on certain issues could compromise the academic values of the universities the board oversees.

A group of students from the regents' universities sent a letter to senators Wednesday urging them not to vote for Cramer.

"Robert Cramer is a committed social conservative activist, who has dedicated his time to advocating against certain issues and communities. Specifically, Mr. Cramer has adamantly opposed the advancement of rights for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Our public universities offer a home for all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation, political ideology, socioeconomic status, race, gender, and the list goes on," the letter stated.

The committee approved the nomination of Dr. Subhash Sahaii for consideration of the full Senate. He is a physician from Webster City.

The state Senate can still take up the nominations of Lang and Cramer. The nominees need 34 of 50 senators to vote in favor of them. It's unclear whether Lang or Cramer can reach that number.

The vote will happen by April 15.

Tim Albrecht, a spokesman for Gov. Terry Branstad, said in a statement to KCCI-TV that Lang and Cramer have Branstad's full confidence and support, and the "last thing Iowa needs is to make these appointments a political battle."

Albrecht said Branstad has no one else in mind to fill the three open spots. He said Branstad is confident the Senate will put politics aside and confirm the three nominees.